R.I. grand jury declines to indict two college basketball players in Providence College sexual-assault case

A statewide grand jury has concluded there is insufficient evidence to bring charges against two college basketball players accused of sexually assaulting a female student on the Providence College campus last November, Brandon Austin, above left, an

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A statewide grand jury has concluded there is insufficient evidence to bring charges against two college basketball players accused of sexually assaulting a female student on the Providence College campus last November.

The players, Rodney Bullock and Brandon Austin, PC teammates at the time, were brought before a college disciplinary board, which found evidence to support a finding of “sexual misconduct.” The board voted in December to suspend Austin through the fall of 2014.

Austin subsequently left Providence College and enrolled at the University of Oregon, where later he was investigated for his role in an alleged sexual assault of a student at a party near campus.

Oregon prosecutors declined to pursue the case against Austin, citing insufficient evidence; the college dismissed Austin from the basketball team.

A basketball website, JucoJunction.com reported earlier this month that Austin is looking to re-start his college basketball career at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas.

Bullock remains a PC student and a member of the basketball team. He is expected to play this fall.

Steven J. Maurano, a spokesman for Providence College, declined to comment on the grand jury decision out of respect, he wrote in an email, for the confidentiality of the legal proceeding and the “welfare of all parties who may be involved.”

Providence College learned of the allegations against Austin and Bullock on Nov. 4, when the female student reported that she’d been sexually assaulted during the night of Nov. 2 and into the following morning.

The players were indefinitely suspended on Nov. 6 from game action “for not upholding their responsibilities as student-athletes,” according to the school.

A five-member disciplinary board at PC that heard the case voted to suspend Austin through the fall semester of 2014, according to letters detailing the proceedings obtained by The Providence Journal. The board also barred him from the college campus during that period without written permission.

But Austin appealed the decision, and a vice president at the private Catholic college who reviewed Austin’s case overturned the ruling on Dec. 23, allowing the freshman recruit to stay in school and continue to practice with the team. However, he was prohibited from participating in games for the rest of the season.

Shortly after the college notified Austin of its decision, he left Providence for the University of Oregon.

On March 6, the female student reported the sexual-assault allegations to Providence police.

Meanwhile, another female student — this one at the University of Oregon — reported to police in Eugene, Ore., on March 13 that she’d been sexually assaulted five days earlier at a party near the university campus by Austin and two other Oregon players.

A district attorney in Oregon later dropped the case, citing insufficient evidence. The players maintained that the sexual contact was consensual. The University of Oregon dismissed Austin and the other two players from the basketball team.

On Wednesday, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin’s office said in a statement that the inquiry into the alleged sexual assault last November involving Austin and Bullock had concluded and that the grand jury had “determined there was insufficient evidence to bring any charges” against the players.

“The Office of Attorney General cannot release further details surrounding the grand jury as disclosure is prohibited by law.”

Peg Langhammer, executive director of Day One, a Providence nonprofit group that aids victims of sexual abuse, said the challenges in prosecuting these cases are just another reason why colleges and universities need to join with victims’ advocates and law enforcement to develop a “team response” to support victims and help them “make as strong a [legal] case as possible.”

“This is one of the most under-reported crimes,” she said, “and even when [victims] do report them, they’re very difficult to prosecute. … It’s just an indication of how much work needs to be done in this area.”

With reports by sports writer Kevin McNamara

Correction: Rodney Bullock is a member of the Providence College basketball team. An earlier version of this report mischaracterized his status as a member of that team.